The World Cup Discussion Thread (OOC, Version IV)

[Barunia]

Could the CoH hosts please note in the OP to that thread which groups are playing in which host nation? Thanks.

I'll ask Krytenia to do so... that said, is it really a problem to scroll 1 post down? The groups are listed in posts 2 and 3.

Thank you. It's not a problem to scroll down, but it not where I would expect to find that information. I mean, it's fine to say, "well I posted this in x place," but if I don't know to look there, it's not much help. Essential tournament information should be in the OP.

[Krytenia]

Could the CoH hosts please note in the OP to that thread which groups are playing in which host nation? Thanks.

This has been done.

[The Gothanita Isles]

A 46 hour contest to see who is the best at predicting the winner of the first post-Anaia World Cup! Will Anaia get their first World Cup trophy after the declaration of Foxchester? Or who is it in this unpredictable World Cup? Go figure it out - here is the link!
https://challonge.com/NSSWC88

[Sylestone]

Following my elimination from the Cup of Harmony group stage, I'm going to be sacking the Toilet from the managerial role of the Sentient team. From now on, they will only be playing in WCC-related events while the human side will be participating in regionals, etc. If anyone is willing to send me a manager of whom is happy to play -5 with a 5-4-1 formation, hit me up with a DM or TG with a short bio about themselves. They will only be managing the Sentients, not the humans. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

Thanks in advance, and good luck to the remaining 32 teams in the CoH and 16 teams in the WC!

[The Gothanita Isles]

Following the release of the CoH MD3 results, the prediction contest for the winner of the 80th Cup of Harmony is also here. While the attention is placed on the final 16 in Chromatika and Cassadaigua, let us not forget the 32 brave teams who are in Krytenia and Græntfjall, trying their hands at getting a WCC trophy! Who do you think will be the final winner? The link to the prediction contest is here: https://challonge.com/NSSCoH80

---

In other news, by mutual agreement, Zahi Castillas will step down as the manager of The Gothanita Isles and will be taking on the new position as league director for the incoming Gothanitan Super League. As such, they will be on the lookout for a new manager. Zahi Castillas, while being able to produce results against big teams, hasn't really been able to use a strategy that the players are used to, that is, a more defensive strategy. As a result, the GIFC would like to look for a manager who loves more defensive strategies, willing to employ anything between -3.5 to -5 style mod. The preferred formations of the squad will be 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 (diamond or not). Any interested applicants, please DM me via Discord or TG this nation (not Poafmersia or PotatoFarmers, please!) and we can iron out some details.

[Chromatika]

Due to some last-minute rescheduling that I couldn't avoid of RL events, the cutoff for tomorrow night's Round of Sixteen in Cassadaigua (Gruops E-H) have been delayed to be between 9PM and 11PM Pacific. I apologize for the short notice and the inconvenience.

[The Archregimancy]

Quarterfinals Fixtures:

Audioslavia vs. Valanora
@ Dagan Airways Stadium, Concord Heights

The Holy Empire vs. Starblaydia
@ Cassgo Stadium, Victoriaville[/align]

Ouch; that's a fairly brutal set of quarterfinals in that half of the draw. The nearest equivalent in real life would be facing something like Germany v. Argentina and Brazil v. Italy at the quarterfinal stage.

Absolutely not even remotely a complaint; merely an observation.

[Audioslavia]

The last time Audioslavia were in the quarters was about thirteen cycles ago, so that's very generous to us. We're more Hungary/Uruguay at this stage.

Still, just the 16 World Cups between us.

[Tumbra]

As my last CoH RP suggested, Tumbra is now looking for a new manager. All applications should be sent via telegram or DM to this account.

The only caveat is that the manager should be willing to play -3, as that is the plan for future seasons.

Thank you.

[PotatoFarmers]

I know results was yesterday, but I thought I should make a preliminary OOC remark before the final RP that I might post over the next 2 days. It will be fun to read, I assure you, after I thought about an idea for the RP line. I will also take that time to give some surprises, answer to THE's previous RP, and also do justice to our cycle.

It has been an amazing cycle. I know it is rather early to say thanks, but honestly, would like to thank Chrom and Cass for the smooth sailing cycle, and also, thanks to Kry and Graint for giving TGI a chance at the CoH. Unfortunately, sometimes things don't go your way, and I couldn't RP. So OOCly I am okay with TGI getting a big fat 0 KPB from the CoH. As for Poaf's crazy run thus far to the top, I will leave it to the IC response

To everyone else who still is fighting for a trophy, all the best! May you reach the heights that you aspire to achieve!

[Sarzonia]

I suppose now's a good time to finally announce that I'm open to a new manager for my national team.

My preference is for a manager who favours a balanced approach, but I'll consider a manager who's more offensive-minded, so a style modifier of 0 to +2 would work.

Please TG me your candidates by the end of the WC cycle.

Thanks.

[Krytenia]

Due to the CoH final being an all-host affair, we have agreed that Chromatika will scorinate the match, roughly in the middle of the cutoff window.

The TPPO will be scorinated by Græntfjall.

[Graintfjall]

You can vote for the CoH Goal of the Tournament. Details here: viewtopic.php?p=38760592#p38760592

[Chromatika]

Congratulations to our champions! I wanted to thank Cassadaigua for her leadership and guidance through this process, and to all the rest of you for some splendid roleplaying.
Let's do it again! (Before the landmark 90th...)

[Quebec and Shingoryeo]

Congratulations to the champions and commiserations to the runner-up!

Of course, many thanks to Cassadaigua and Chromatika for running an excellent, smooth World Cup! Bravo!

[Twicetagram and JYPe]

Congrats to the champions of this WC88! I'd like to thank Chrom and Cass for hosting a smooth WC. Cheers!

[Equestrian States]

Post-WC88 SRS+ rankings update is now available

Key: 7 points for winning the World Cup. 6 points for second place. 5 points for third place. 4 points for fourth place. 3 points for elimination in the quarterfinals. 2 points for elimination in the second round. 1 point for elimination in the group stage. 1 additional point for co-hosting World Cup finals.

The nation with the most points not yet in the World Cup Nations' Hall of Fame following World Cup 88 is Quebec, an active nation with 24 points from 12 finals appearances. As such, Quebec joins the Hall of Fame as the WC88 inductee.

Congratulations, Quebec!

As always, if you catch any potential errors, please shoot me a TG or PM so I can fix them. (The active nations list still needs updating, so hold off on those reports for a few days or so)

[Tinhampton]

I would like to send my condolences to the runners-up of this World Cup

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

congrats to our WC Champion! congrats to our new HOF inductee. Thanks to our WC and COH hosts!

[Banija]

I would just like to say the following.

#1 Congratulations to our champion! It's been a long time coming for Turori to get a ring of their own z and what a time to do it!

#2 well done to our WC & CoH hosts! Both tourneys went off functionally without a hitch..it's a gigantic task to hose a WC with just two hosts, and also to co-host a 64 team Cup of Harmony. Especially we have a first time WC host, Chrom, so particularly well done to him.

What a cycle (that will end tomorrow!). I hope our WCC champions can bask in the glory... plenty of time before the next cycle begins and we're back at this.

[Banija]

Also, an addendum.

Commiserations to THE. 10 appearances in the World Cup Final is a ridiculous number, and the consistent RP quality and creativity he's shown since many of us were much younger lads shows he's deserving of being the first nation to have double digit appearances in the World Cup Final.

Lastly, congratulations to Quebec on his ascent to the Hall! A long hiatus and a triumphant return, he's been a big part of the Community for a long time, and deserves his name in the hypothetical rafters forever. A long time coming, and well earned. My glass is raised to you!

[Alasdair I Frosticus]

Poo.

Ah well, you can't win them all, even if winning is always nicer than losing; and any disappointment over losing what was only my second final since WC69 is mitigated by knowing that many WC participants would be happy just to make the final full stop.

I imagine that a fair number of neutrals would have preferred it if the final hadn't been between the IC nation with the most number of final appearances and the RL player with (I think? Unless I've forgotten a Pasarga title) the highest number of WC wins, but at least no one can complain we don't put the effort in.

So congratulations to Turori (and their shadowy cabal of Vilitan overlords), and my thanks to the hosts.

Cuddly Cthulhu and his Playful Pals will be back for another try in WC 89; they want to make more GOOFI friends. But there might be some minor line-up changes.

[Banija]

Since I've been asked this question, I'll give the answer to everybody so we're all on the same page.

My goal, of course, is to make sure that the World Cup does not get scheduled at the same time as the NS Olympiad, which will start in about a month.

To ensure that, while I don't have an exact time frame(as Electrum doesn't have an exact schedule), the tentative plan is to open World Cup signups around the first week of August. May be slightly earlier, may be slightly later, depending on how the cookie crumbles, but that's the current goal.

That'd probably give us a BoF kicking off in mid to late August(which could possibly coincide with the Olympiad depending on how those future hosts schedule it), and a WC probably around early to mid September, which should be on the other side of the NS Olympiad.

A lot of estimates, as I don't control when any hosts start any of their tournaments. But as of today, that's the projected timeline, and of course, my reasoning for it.

[Nephara]

That feels like a very tight window to squeeze in an IFCF and maintain pace...

[Independent Athletes from Quebec]

Since I've been asked this question, I'll give the answer to everybody so we're all on the same page.

My goal, of course, is to make sure that the World Cup does not get scheduled at the same time as the NS Olympiad, which will start in about a month.

To ensure that, while I don't have an exact time frame(as Electrum doesn't have an exact schedule), the tentative plan is to open World Cup signups around the first week of August. May be slightly earlier, may be slightly later, depending on how the cookie crumbles, but that's the current goal.

That'd probably give us a BoF kicking off in mid to late August(which could possibly coincide with the Olympiad depending on how those future hosts schedule it), and a WC probably around early to mid September, which should be on the other side of the NS Olympiad.

A lot of estimates, as I don't control when any hosts start any of their tournaments. But as of today, that's the projected timeline, and of course, my reasoning for it.

Just one question, Banija - Would it be possible to delay the WC scheduling by a couple of weeks from the end of originally proposed windows, or at least have the events start at their very tail end?

It is more out of consideration for non-NSWC events, which includes needing enough time for domestic football for many and mostly American sports for others. While I have heard of a BoF bid coming soon, the concern is more over how quick the turnaround gets between the World Cups, especially with the rush for IFCF and other tournaments being done in what's a fairly constrained window. For those roleplaying and hosting other sport tournaments (including yours), this may risk the chance of burnouts.